CEDIA Adds Second EXPO Trade Show for 2008

The residential electronic systems industry at large and the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association will reach significant milestones next year. Industry revenues will top $10 billion1 and CEDIA will produce a second EXPO trade show. CEDIA EXPO 2008 will take place in Denver next September as planned, and a new event–CEDIA Spring EXPO 2008–will be held April 8-11 in Las Vegas.

“Feedback from CEDIA members indicates that there is strong support for a second show that draws from a more regional electronic systems contractor base,” said Ken Smith, president of CEDIA. “Our business changes and grows so quickly that focusing the industry’s attention on key issues, such as new technologies and products, design trends, and education and certification more than once a year is not only a good idea, it’s essential for the professional development of our members.”

CEDIA EXPO is a the largest trade show serving the residential electronic systems industry, and the event is ranked as the 70th largest trade show in North America by Tradeshow Week magazine. Because of the rapid success of CEDIA EXPO, which is in line with explosive marketplace growth, the association has had to turn away new exhibitors and prohibit existing exhibitors from increasing their booth sizes.

CEDIA Executive Director Don Gilpin said the Spring EXPO will help to eliminate the waiting list for new exhibitors and offer more opportunities for the different CEDIA stakeholders, including attendees, education and certification participants, and manufacturers.

“The new Spring EXPO offers manufacturers more one-on-one time with attendees and a second opportunity during the year to launch products specifically designed for the residential electronic systems industry, Gilpin said. “Also, Spring EXPO will be the second-largest educational opportunity besides EXPO, which is already reaching more than 28,000 attendees.”

Gilpin also said CEDIA expects the Spring EXPO attendance to have a similar demographic make-up to CEDIA EXPO, with a higher concentration of West Coast-based electronic systems contractors, sales representatives and consultants.

Jeremy Burkhardt, a member of CEDIA’s board of directors and president of SpeakerCraft, agreed with Gilpin.

“As a manufacturer, I believe adding CEDIA Spring EXPO will provide my company with additional one-on-one dealer time, not to mention the added exposure of a second CEDIA show,” Burkhardt said. “The second show allows dealers more opportunity to engage in a full schedule of education that they may be unable to do at CEDIA EXPO in Denver due to numerous schedule conflicts that can arise at a show that size.”

CEDIA Spring EXPO 2008 will be held in Las Vegas at the Sands Expo & Convention Center and Venetian hotel. Booth space sales will open in August. Companies interested in exhibiting may contact Jennifer Roth of CEDIA at 317-328-4336 or jroth@cedia.org. More information will be posted at http://www.cedia.org/springexpo.

CEDIA is an international trade association of companies that specialize in designing and installing electronic systems for the home. The association was founded in September 1989 and has more than 3,500 member companies worldwide. CEDIA Members are established and insured businesses with bona fide qualifications and experience in this specialized field. For more information on CEDIA, visit the association’s Web site at http://www.cedia.org.